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What’s happening with the Cape Cod bridges?
Plans are in place to replace the Sagamore and Bourne bridges, including taking private property, which is raising concerns among homeowners.
After decades of discussion, the long-promised replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges is finally moving forward — and the impact is starting to hit home.
With $1 billion in federal funding secured last summer for the Sagamore Bridge and eminent domain notices going out to homeowners earlier this year, the once-distant project is becoming a reality.
As Luisa Paiewonsky, executive director of the Megaproject Delivery Office at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, said, “Yes! The bridges are coming.”
So, how soon will construction begin? Who will be affected? And what will the new bridges actually look like?
Boston.com breaks it down below.
The project
According to the Cape Cod Commission, the regional planning, economic development, and regulatory agency, the 90-year-old bridges are considered “functionally obsolete,” with narrow roadways, unsafe pedestrian access, and aging infrastructure.
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As the only connection to the mainland, the bridges are essential infrastructure for the more than 200,000 year-round Cape residents and the 50,000 daily commuters who rely on them.
The federal government owns the bridges, but under an agreement with Massachusetts officials, the state will take over operations after they are rebuilt. MassDOT is leading the replacement project.
The new bridge design includes two archway bridges at each crossing, allowing for staged construction while keeping two lanes of traffic operational in both directions.
The new lanes will meet highway standards and include two travel lanes in each direction, additional entrance and exit lanes to help maintain traffic flow, and pedestrian-friendly pathways.
Funding dilemma
One of the most significant challenges in moving forward with the project was securing federal funding. The state has committed $700 million to support the project, and the federal government has committed $1.72 billion.
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Government officials applied for additional federal grant submissions to cover the replacement of the Bourne Bridge.
MassDOT estimates the cost of replacing the two bridges to be $4.5 billion.
State Sen. Dylan Fernandes, representing Plymouth and Barnstable, spoke at a July public hearing, emphasizing that this project must move forward.
“This is the most important project that this region has had since the creation of the Canal over a hundred years ago,” said Fernandes. “This is the most impactful project. The new bridges will redefine transportation in the region for the next 100 years.”
Timeline
The Sagamore Bridge, currently in the design phase of the project, is ready to move into the environmental approval process, which MassDOT expects to complete by late 2026. Once that is done, the agency will shift into the procurement process to find a design team and construction contractor.
MassDOT expects the procurement process to wrap up in late 2027 or early 2028, when construction can proceed.
Massachusetts officials previously said the replacement of both Cape Cod bridges could extend into the late 2030s.
Eminent domain
Through eminent domain, the government has the power to take private property for public use without the owner’s consent, as long as it offers compensation.
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Eminent domain for the Sagamore Bridge will impact 13 homes, mainly in the Round Hill neighborhood and three commercial businesses, according to Paiewonsky.
There will be other eminent domains announced for the Bourne Bridge, she said, but these are the most significant.
“The reason that we started early is that we didn’t want people to feel rushed,” said Paiewonsky. “We wanted to give people time to absorb the news, make their plans, line up any resources that they needed and work with us through two major processes.”
The first is the appraisal process, in which the state estimates the home and land value. An outside appraiser will also take part.
“There are requirements to make sure that we give them every nickel to which they’re entitled,” Paiewonsky said.
The state will also help the homeowners find suitable housing that resembles the features of their current homes.
“We certainly recognize the power of eminent domain,” said Paiewonsky. “The use of the power of eminent domain, we do need for the greater public good, for infrastructure, is something that we use very sparingly.”
However, it is an “enormous bridge that we’re building and it’s touching down in a densely settled neighborhood,” said Paiweonsky. “We looked at a variety of alignments and approaches to the bridge, and this one had the fewest property impacts.”
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Paiewonsky noted that the property owners foresaw what was coming for the most part. She recognizes that one household was unaware and recently built a new home.
Joan and Marc Hendel, who spoke at a July public meeting, bought their property, which is being taken by eminent domain, in 2023, according to assessor records.
The out-of-state couple said they built the new home and recently moved in at the beginning of the year, not knowing of the possibility of the bridge replacements.
At the meeting, Joan Hendel asked the state why there was no mental health support for the residents of Round Hill, who are distressed by the possibility of losing their homes, saying, “It puts us over the edge.”
She added that although the state says they’re not rushing them, “it sure feels like that to all of us.”
Bridge connection
Paiwonsky recognizes that the bridges are more than just a connection to the mainland — they are also the visible symbol for many starting their vacation or returning home.
“The bridges are connecting people to a very special place, and they have a huge amount of significance, not only to people on Cape Cod, but from all over,” she said.
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